It has been a wonderfully busy summer aboard Steamship Freshspring, with open days, family activities and local events bringing visitors from across the community – and much further afield – to explore our historic steamship.


Our summer programme has been in full flow during August with our first Family Fun Day on Tuesday 4 August, when 95 visitors came aboard, including 42 children and 53 adults. There was plenty to keep families entertained, with our Virtual Reality experience proving popular, the pop-pop boats attracting lots of attention, and, as always, the Teddy Bear Hunt proving a firm favourite

Photo: visitors enjoying our Virtual Reality Experience

Our new interactive donation box, made by some of our brilliant maintenance volunteer crew has also proved really popular with children lining up to roll coins down the fun seaside tracks. 


On Saturday 8 August, Freshspring was open during Bideford Fair, while Edna, the miniature steam train, provided her ever-popular rides in Victoria Park. Freshspring also had a special role in the Bideford Regatta, with officials from the local rowing clubs using the ship as the starting line. We welcomed 59 visitors aboard during the day and were delighted to induct two new volunteer stewards, Brian and Janice Jacobs. A very warm welcome to them both.

Photos:  Volunteer Pete using his creative skills to build our new interactive Donation Box and above, the box it use!

The following day, Sunday 9 August, brought the Bideford Festival of Transport to Victoria Park, with Edna once again entertaining visitors with steam train rides. It was also a record-breaking day for Freshspring, with 119 visitors stepping aboard – our highest visitor total so far in 2026, including 89 adults and 30 children.

Our second Family Fun Day on Tuesday 11 August was another busy occasion, with visitors enjoying the Virtual Reality experience, brass rubbing and, of course, the ever-popular Teddy Bear Hunt.

Then came our final Family Fun Day on Tuesday 18 August, with a special Pirate theme. Just like last year, it proved to be our most successful Family Fun Day, with the ship filled with pirates, families and plenty of laughter. Our Freshspring band helped create a fantastic atmosphere, while visitors embraced the theme with pirate fancy dress and had great fun dressing up in the Master and crew uniforms.


Photos: Fun with Giant Sailor Teddy Oswald and Pop Pop Boats

Face painting, was very popular with plenty of impressive scars and anchor tattoos, while every child received a free pirate hat. Our interactive parrot was another huge hit, delighting children with cheeky winks and unexpected comments. And, as ever, the Teddy Bear Hunt had children enthusiastically dragging parents and carers around the ship in a determined search for every last teddy!

Photos: Great fun dressing up in the Master's Cabin

Across the three Family Fun Days, it has been particularly lovely to see such strong support from our local community, while also welcoming visitors from much further afield. Our postcode figures show that 58% of visitors came from Devon EX postcodes, with the majority from the local EX39 area. A further 40% came from elsewhere in the UK, while we also welcomed six international visitors – including two Australians visiting family and four visitors from Europe.

With the summer programme continuing, we have now welcomed 1,166 visitors aboard Freshspring during the 2026 season, averaging 56 visitors per open day.

None of this would be possible without the enthusiasm, hard work and commitment of our wonderful volunteers. From welcoming visitors and running activities to keeping the ship looking her best, it is their time and dedication that makes these special days possible.

A huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered, visited, donated and supported Freshspring throughout this busy summer. It has been fantastic to see the ship buzzing with activity and to share her story with so many people.

And we are not finished yet! 
Our next special event will be Halloween aboard Freshspring. More details will be coming soon – 🎃 so watch this space! 🎃